Crosswalk.com aims to offer the most compelling biblically-based content to Christians on their walk with Jesus. Crosswalk.com is your online destination for all areas of Christian Living – faith, family, fun, and community. Each category is further divided into areas important to you and your Christian faith including Bible study, daily devotions, marriage, parenting, movie reviews, music, news, and more.

Religion Today Blog Christian Blog and Commentary

Leading Psychiatrist: Demonic Possession is Real and Possibly on the Rise

Leading Psychiatrist: Demonic Possession is Real and Possibly on the Rise

A leading psychiatrist has said that after working in the field for over two decades, he believes demon possession is real. Dr. Richard Gallagher, a professor of clinical psychiatry at New York Medical College, says his opinion differs from most other professionals in the field.

Gallagher has seen over one hundred people who appeared to have paranormal abilities. He deemed that most of these individuals suffered from mental illness. Still, he claims to have also seen the real thing.

"For the past two-and-a-half decades and over several hundred consultations, I've helped clergy from multiple denominations and faiths to filter episodes of mental illness - which represent the overwhelming majority of cases - from, literally, the devil's work," Gallagher said.

According to Gallagher, demonic possessions could even be on the rise.

"The Vatican does not track global or countrywide exorcism, but in my experience and according to the priests I meet, the demand is rising," he said.

"The United States is home to about 50 'stable' exorcists - those who have been designated by bishops to combat demonic activity on a semi-regular basis - up from just 12 a decade ago.”

As a doctor, Gallagher said he believes it would be wrong to reject the possibility that demonic attacks were real.

"As a psychoanalyst, a blanket rejection of the possibility of demonic attacks seems less logical, and often wishful in nature, than a careful appraisal of the facts,” he said.